Ireland
Part II: Killarney
In Killarney I picked up my bike from the Irish Cycle Hire depot by the rail station.
An adequate ride for a first time cycle-tourist (such as myself) it came with lock, pump and repair kit, and the panniers (rear only) were available for a little more.
Killarney is a huge tourist destination, in large part because of the 37 sq. mile
Killarney National Park, a wide expanse of forested mountains, lakes and wildlife
bordering the town.
visit Killarney On-Line for more information on the town.
Lough Leane
Killarney National Park encompasses three main lakes,
this is a view of the Lower Lake (Lough Leane) from Ross Island.
Muckross Abbey
Built in 1448, the remains of the abbey (from when Cromwell
tried to burn it down) stand 3 mi. south of Killarney.
Meeting of the Waters
A couple of miles further along a nice paved path is the Meeting of the Waters,
where the Upper Lake empties into Middle Lake (Muckross Lake)
and then nearby into Lower Lake (Lough Leane).
Gap of Dunloe
After spending the night sleeping outside in the park
(because all of the hostels were full)
I braved the Gap of Dunloe, a rugged path through
Ireland's highest mountain range, MacGillicuddy's Reeks.
Gap of Dunloe
In spite of the apparently empty roads in these pictures,
the path was well travelled by both hikers and pony-carts (for hire of course).
I traversed the gap from north to south and ended up cutting across
a hiking path (really not intended for bicycles at all) in order
to get to N71 and continue heading southward towards the Beara peninsula.
Ladies' View
About 20 km south of Killarney on N71 (and partway up the Mangeryton mountains) this celebrated panarama provides a view of Killarney's lakes much admired by Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting (hence the name) in 1861.
Next: the Beara peninsula to Timoleague
Site constructed by Murray A. Francis
email: murray@francis.com